WEBVTT Kind: captions; Language: en

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Hello and welcome to the famous Computer Cafe.

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I'm Andy Velkoff.

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And I'm Michael Walker.

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And we'll be spending the next hour together
talking about the personal computer

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revolution that's sweeping across
the country and around the world.

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You know, our guests include columnist
John Dvorak, who appears weekly in

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InfoWorld, Katie Altman of Passport Software,
who will be talking about a

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software program which sets the music
of Duran Duran to computer graphics.

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We'll also be speaking with Jeff Garber,
the president of MicroStuff, which

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publishes Crosstalk, a software program
which allows you to communicate with

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other computers around the world
using your telephone and a modem.

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And of course, we also have our famous
Computer Cafe giveaway where you'll win a

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free Commodore 64 computer
or dinner for two at one of

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L.A.'s hottest restaurants.

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So sit back, relax and enjoy the show.

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And we'll be right back after
this commercial message.

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We're the lonely satellite.

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If Lothis had given you just one.

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One, a spreadsheet that's up to 50 times
faster than other spreadsheets with

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every statistical and financial
formula you'll ever need and the

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largest workspace on the market.

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That would have been enough.

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And if Lothis had given you just two.

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Two, information management to store and
organize information with the ability to

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cross-index over 2,000 records by 32
criteria and use information from

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other programs and computer systems.

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That would have been enough.

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And if Lothis had given you just three.

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Three, graphics.

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To graph information from your spreadsheet
in less than two seconds and change

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that information, touch a key and
graph the new results instantly.

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Graphics as a thinking tool.

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That would have been enough.

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But Lothis has given you more.

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Text editing, tutorials, a help key and
a host of features which give Lothis 1,

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2, 3 its power and simplicity.

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Lothis 1, 2, 3 is available at The Software
Spot. 10977 Santa Monica Boulevard in

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West Los Angeles or phone. 213-477-7561.

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That's 213-477-7561.

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The Software Spot.

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The oldest independently owned and
operated software store in Los Angeles.

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A soft sell dealer.

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As our way of thanking all our new
listeners here at the famous Computer Cafe,

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we're giving away a free Commodore 64
computer and a dinner for two at one of the

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loveliest restaurants in all of Los
Angeles just in time for the holidays.

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And all you need to do is send us a card
with your name, address, phone number

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and the name and the type of
personal computer you currently

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own or would like to own.

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Send all this information to the famous
Computer Cafe giveaway. 1322 Second

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Street, Suite 24 Santa Monica,
California, 90401.

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That's the famous Computer Cafe giveaway,
1322 Second Street, Suite 24 Santa

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Monica, California, 90401.

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We'll be putting all the cards in a hat
and drawing two winners which we'll

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announce on the air on December 17th.

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That's a brand new Commodore 64 computer.

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Second prize will be dinner for two
at one of LA's favorite restaurants.

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So send your entries today to the famous
Computer Cafe giveaway. 1322 Second

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Street, Suite 24 Santa Monica,
California, 90401.

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Enter today.

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Okay, this is Michael Walker.

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We're here at the famous Computer Cafe.

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And our guest today is Jeff Garber.

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Jeff is the VP of Product Development
for Micro Stuff Incorporated.

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First of all,
I just want to say welcome to the cafe.

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Oh, thank you, Michael.

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It's very good to be here.

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Enjoy it.

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Give me a little background.

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I'm going to, we're going to find out a
lot about micro stuff and the products

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and crosstalk is a biggie.

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But give me a sense about you.

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Who's Jeff Garber?

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How'd you get into the world of personal

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computers, especially in product development?

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Okay, well, where it all started,
I guess, you could go as

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far back as when I was 11 years old.

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My father brought home a set of manuals,
cobalt manuals from

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when he was working at Blue
Cross and Blue Shield.

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I had shown some interest in math, so I didn't

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really get a chance to do anything with that.

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With the cobalt that I had learned at that
point until I got into high school, at

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which point we had a data processing course.

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The way that we did programming there
was we would punch our programs into

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punched cards,
take them down to the main office.

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A little man in a van would come by every
couple days and take the punched cards

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down to the district office,
which was a mile or so down the road.

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And a couple of days later, we would get
our printouts back and he may or may not

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have dropped the cards in the mud
and gotten them all mixed up for us.

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And at which point the compiler
would tell us that we'd misplaced a

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period and that we'd had to do
the whole thing over again.

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So it was not what you would
consider high bandwidth interactive

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computing at that point.

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But the fortunate thing was that

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the folks there did give
me a little bit of leeway.

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I managed to get some of the regular
products out of the way, or the projects,

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how their products and then there were
projects, out of the way quickly and wrote

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some games that I'd wanted to write for
a long time and got three or four people

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involved in playing a game at that point,
which the district was kind of

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surprised as to why these reports
were coming out in their line printer

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concerning whose star system had blown up,
whose spaceships.

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And they were expecting grade reports.

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But then when I went to my undergraduate
work at Wabash College, a small liberal

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arts school in Crawfordville, Indiana,
and that was my really first sort of hands

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-on approach where they had a
PDP-11 that was interactive.

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I could just sit down and
program in BASIC and I

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would type to it and it would type back to me.

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I said, wow,
this sure beats having the man in the van take

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it down to the district
office every couple of days.

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I managed to sort of learn
BASIC programming with that.

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In January of 1979, I managed to convince
my folks that it was indeed a good idea

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for me to go out and buy a
personal computer of my own.

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Mom was still on record as having said
something like, well, what are you going

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to do with it and how well I could
write programs and sell them.

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And she was kind of doubtful about that.

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And I remind her of that every now and then.

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That was an Apple II in 1979.

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And just started sort of tinkering around
with that and wrote some programs for

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that, some of which sold, some of which didn't.

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Later, when I got done with my work at Wabash,
at which time I was one of the

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first people with an Apple on campus,
which everybody thought was really neat

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because I could put somebody's report
into a word processor and when they found

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it was just a few lines short of the
five pages that were required, bring the

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margins in by three spaces, run it off again,
and it would be acceptable.

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I started a PhD project at the
Georgia Institute of Technology.

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And around that same time was when the
IBM personal computer first came out.

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And I started to get very interested in
human factors and usability and some of

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the cognitive psychology involved in
interactions between people and computers

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and realizing that there was something
beyond syntax error or reenter that you

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could do to try to make systems
approachable for people.

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And I met Dr. Albert Boudre, who was one
of the country's leading researchers in

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human factors and usability, and I just
sort of saw the light at that point and

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said, yea, verily,
this is something that I want to pursue.

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At the time, Georgia Tech was not
interested in having me pursue that.

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They felt that it was more important for
PhD students to have a background in

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theoretical information science and
theoretical computer science, and I didn't

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really see the need for that
for what I was interested in.

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I was more interested in cognitive psychology
and that sort of thing, so we just

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sort of said, well, okay guys,
if we can't reach an amicable agreement, let me

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take some of these ideas that I've been
thinking about doing as a thesis and put

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them in a product, which was when we
began designing the Infoscope product.

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Dr. Boudre and I began collaboration on that.

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We'll sort of parallel to this.

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Les Fried, who was the president of MicroStuff,
had sort of saved me because a

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terminal that I needed for a demonstration
of a system that I'd written for Tech

00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:12.000
had pooped out on me.

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And I left a frantic message on his
bulletin board saying, if anybody can

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fix this terminal, please let me know.

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And he left a message back that said,
we'll bring it by.

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We'll see if we can take a look at it.

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And so that was when I met Les and heard
about crosstalk, and he gave me a copy

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of crosstalk for an Osborne,
which I'd picked up on the line.

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And just sort of started batting around
ideas about what you could do now that

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this new IBM PC had come out and we were
showing a little more memory and a more

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sophisticated screen and a
bigger keyboard and that.

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Well, what can we do with
communication software, which is

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crosstalk, in that environment?

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And that sort of became a, we collaborated
on that and were batting around some

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ideas and what would we really like to have?

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What would be neat to have in a communications
program for that sort of machine?

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So crosstalk 16 evolved out of that.

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That got done before Infoscope got done.

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Infoscope was wrapped up, I guess,
about, oh, maybe we started shipping in

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March or April of this year.

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And so that brings us up to the present.

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Man, that was quick and that was clean.

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If you just joined us, we're here at the
famous Computer Cafe with our guest,

00:09:10.001 --> 00:09:14.000
Jeff Garberz, and an interesting
story behind this whole thing.

00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:16.000
We'll get into crosstalk when we come back.

00:09:16.001 --> 00:09:19.000
This is Michael Walker here
at the famous Computer Cafe.

00:09:19.001 --> 00:09:20.000
Stay tuned, guys.

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Today,
I'd like to discuss Multiplan by Microsoft.

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What's a Multiplan?

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It's a spreadsheet program for
your IBM PC or your Macintosh.

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Well, what do you do with a Multiplan?

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Use it to make forecasts.

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You mean like what the weather will be?

00:09:49.001 --> 00:09:51.000
No, more like weather or not.

00:09:51.001 --> 00:09:53.000
Can I join Multiplan?

00:09:53.000 --> 00:09:54.001
No, you don't join it.

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You use it.

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It's a tool designed with non-computer
people in mind to help you

00:09:58.001 --> 00:10:00.001
manage your business and plan for the future.

00:10:01.000 --> 00:10:01.000
A tool?

00:10:01.001 --> 00:10:03.000
Oh, you mean like a hammer.

00:10:03.001 --> 00:10:06.001
Well, if you're looking for a way
to hit the nail on the head, use

00:10:06.001 --> 00:10:08.000
Multiplan to build your worksheet.

00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:12.001
Enter the formulas you normally use to
do budgets or cash flow analysis or

00:10:12.001 --> 00:10:15.001
financial planning and then let
Multiplan do the calculations

00:10:15.001 --> 00:10:17.000
while you sit back and watch.

00:10:17.001 --> 00:10:18.001
Well, where can I see it?

00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:24.001
At Software Center International,
located at 22543 South Hawthorne Boulevard in

00:10:24.001 --> 00:10:28.001
Torrance or call 213-378-9225.

00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:33.000
That's 213-378-9225.

00:10:33.001 --> 00:10:37.000
Software Center International in Torrance,
a soft sell dealer.

00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:39.000
Word gets around fast.

00:10:39.001 --> 00:10:43.001
Word for Microsoft is quickly becoming
the word processing program of choice

00:10:43.001 --> 00:10:45.001
because word is faster and easier.

00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:49.001
Most commands are executed in a
single keystroke and with Microsoft's

00:10:49.001 --> 00:10:51.001
mouse, not even a keystroke is needed.

00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:53.000
Just point and click.

00:10:53.001 --> 00:10:55.000
Would you like to reword that?

00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:55.001
Sure.

00:10:55.001 --> 00:11:00.000
If you've ever had to search through a
50-page document to change one word, you

00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:04.000
can appreciate Word's ability to search
at and replace any character, number,

00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:06.000
word, or phrase in any document.

00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:09.000
Just once or as many times as you like.

00:11:09.001 --> 00:11:10.001
Windows on the word.

00:11:10.001 --> 00:11:14.001
Word gives you eight windows that
allows you to edit or compare different

00:11:14.001 --> 00:11:18.000
documents simultaneously or work
on different areas of the same

00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:20.000
document, all in one display.

00:11:20.001 --> 00:11:21.000
Get the word.

00:11:21.001 --> 00:11:28.000
Word is available at Software Supermarket,
16200 Hawthorne Boulevard or call 213

00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:30.001
-207-1494.

00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:34.001
That's 213-207-1494.

00:11:34.001 --> 00:11:35.001
Get the word.

00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:39.000
At the Software Supermarket,
a soft sale dealer.

00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:42.000
We're back.

00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:43.000
This is Michael Walker.

00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:44.000
We're here with Jeff Garvers.

00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:48.001
He's the VP of Product Development
and we're talking about some of

00:11:48.001 --> 00:11:50.001
the things that he's been doing.

00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:55.000
You mentioned just earlier
about Infoscope and Crosstalk.

00:11:56.000 --> 00:12:00.001
In a way that I can understand,
try and explain to me a little bit of the

00:12:00.001 --> 00:12:04.000
background of Infoscope and what it's
really about with the human factors.

00:12:04.001 --> 00:12:05.001
And Crosstalk as well.

00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:07.000
Let's start with Crosstalk.

00:12:07.001 --> 00:12:09.000
It's a little bit more straightforward.

00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:14.000
There is a large number of
resources that people can

00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:15.001
access through computers over the phone.

00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:18.001
Things like making airline
reservations and all these things

00:12:18.001 --> 00:12:20.000
that you always hear about
in the home of tomorrow.

00:12:20.001 --> 00:12:22.000
You just punch the button
on your TV set or whatever

00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:24.000
and you find yourself in Las Vegas.

00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:28.000
Crosstalk was designed to allow people
with personal computers to communicate

00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:31.001
with other systems over the phone
lines using a device called a modem.

00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:36.000
Crosstalk 16, as it evolved,
we saw a need for some more sophisticated

00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:38.000
capabilities really for the business user.

00:12:38.001 --> 00:12:41.001
We found that people a lot of times needed
to set up a system so that somebody

00:12:41.001 --> 00:12:45.001
who was not particularly technical could
use it very easily in their own terms.

00:12:46.001 --> 00:12:48.001
An example I like to use is let's say
there's a company and then every Friday

00:12:48.001 --> 00:12:52.000
they need to call their company's
computer and get some reports so that

00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:54.000
they can put it on the desk
of the people that need it.

00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:57.000
Well, there's no way for us to write a
communications program that has a choice

00:12:57.000 --> 00:13:00.000
on a menu than they pick,
you know, letter F is download the

00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:02.000
QZ34 report every Friday.

00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:03.001
We don't know that people do that.

00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:10.000
But through the use of some programming
capabilities in Crosstalk that are very

00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:13.001
approachable for people without even a
lot of programming background, somebody

00:13:13.001 --> 00:13:17.000
who with a little more proficiency can
set up that to automate it so that

00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:20.000
somebody who is not all that proficient
can just make the choice and

00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:21.001
have all that stuff happen automatically.

00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:26.001
We think that's most important in the
business community that we find a lot of

00:13:26.001 --> 00:13:29.001
situations in which there are one or two
people at a company who are really into

00:13:29.001 --> 00:13:32.001
PCs and they had one before everybody
else had one and they went home some

00:13:32.001 --> 00:13:34.001
weekend and brought something in and
said to the boss, gee, look at this, you

00:13:34.001 --> 00:13:37.000
know, I can push this button and
all this stuff happens and the boss

00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:38.001
says great, let's order 300 of those.

00:13:39.001 --> 00:13:41.001
Those are the sort of people we really like.

00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:44.001
We like to provide them with
the tools that they need to

00:13:44.001 --> 00:13:47.000
create those sort of systems.

00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:49.000
Crosstalk has done very well.

00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:51.000
We get a lot of good user feedback.

00:13:51.001 --> 00:13:55.000
Some people have said that initially they
find Crosstalk not as easy to use as

00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:58.000
some system that is strictly menu driven
where you just sort of pick a number and

00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:01.000
you say a one, you know,
set the phone number two, change what speed you

00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:03.000
want to communicate at, those sorts of things.

00:14:03.001 --> 00:14:09.000
But as I talk about Infoscope, the philosophy
behind it is to provide, to realize

00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:12.000
that people aren't static in the way
that they interact with the computer.

00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:15.001
Anything that people do,
whether it be lifting weights or running

00:14:15.001 --> 00:14:17.000
or whatever, you get better at it.

00:14:17.001 --> 00:14:19.000
You lift weights enough and
you can lift more weight.

00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:20.001
You can run faster, farther, whatever.

00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:25.000
And I think it's important in software
design to account for that as well.

00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:28.000
As people use a piece of software over
an extended period of time, they need to

00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:32.000
be able to circumvent a lot of the water
wings and training wheels, if you will,

00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:35.000
that people tend to hang on the systems
and be able to get right at it and do

00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:37.000
what it is exactly that they want now and

00:14:37.000 --> 00:14:39.000
not have that interference placed in between.

00:14:39.001 --> 00:14:44.000
So what you really do then is you take
your programs and you look at how people

00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:50.001
operate and in a way that makes
it less strenuous, less difficult

00:14:50.001 --> 00:14:55.001
to use, your programs allow telecommunications
so a person can call, make it easy

00:14:55.001 --> 00:15:00.001
to place those calls right from their
computer and interact with the computer

00:15:00.001 --> 00:15:02.000
or whoever they want to talk to.

00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:03.000
That's exactly right.

00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:05.001
People will use crosstalk
really for two basic reasons.

00:15:05.001 --> 00:15:09.001
Either they need to call some sort of an
information utility, of which there are

00:15:09.001 --> 00:15:13.001
many, The Source and CompuServe and
Newsnet and several other systems that are

00:15:13.001 --> 00:15:15.001
available for people to get
information that they need.

00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:18.000
Also a lot of times people
will use crosstalk to

00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:19.001
contact other people with
other personal computers.

00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:23.001
For example, we had a demonstration that
we did and we found out that we were

00:15:23.001 --> 00:15:25.001
missing a file that we really had to have.

00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:29.000
Well part of the, I think they thought
that we were faking this because it just

00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:30.001
fell into place neatly with the demonstration.

00:15:30.001 --> 00:15:33.001
We just said, well we'll just use
crosstalk and call our system back at the

00:15:33.001 --> 00:15:36.000
office and just get that file here
right away and then a minute later it

00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:37.001
was there and they said, wow you can do that.

00:15:37.001 --> 00:15:39.000
Are you sure you guys didn't plan that?

00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:39.001
We said, no really.

00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:45.000
We're not quite that clever but it worked
out real well and people will use it

00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:47.000
sometimes to send documents back and forth.

00:15:47.001 --> 00:15:50.000
Here's my latest chapter of the manual,
what do you think of it?

00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:51.001
Take a look at it,
bring it into your word processor

00:15:51.001 --> 00:15:53.000
there, massage it and send it back to me.

00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:56.001
It really opens the doors for
people to do a lot of things that

00:15:56.001 --> 00:15:58.001
would just be too much effort otherwise.

00:15:58.001 --> 00:16:01.000
If you had to give it to a courier or
something and run it across town or that

00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:03.000
sort of stuff, it wouldn't be worth it.

00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:06.000
But if you have that sort of instantaneous
electronic transmission of information

00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:08.000
like that, you can do some things that

00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:09.001
just really weren't possible
with any other medium.

00:16:10.001 --> 00:16:16.000
So boy, the whole thing that you're
talking about is being able to be at your

00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:21.001
personal computer and manipulate the
telephones and everything else so that you

00:16:21.001 --> 00:16:25.000
can be more in control but
with less interference.

00:16:25.001 --> 00:16:26.000
That's right.

00:16:26.001 --> 00:16:30.000
We try to reduce the amount of stuff
between you and getting your job done.

00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:34.000
In order to get at all this information
that's out there, typically

00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:36.001
it's this idea of effort again.

00:16:36.001 --> 00:16:38.001
If it's not worth the amount
of effort that you're going to

00:16:38.001 --> 00:16:40.000
put into it, you're just not going to do it.

00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:43.000
If you have to go through a complicated
procedure, if you have to go through a

00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:46.000
whole series of menus, if you have to
learn a lot of really complicated commands

00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:48.001
to get it done, you're going to say,
can I live without this?

00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:50.000
It's really too much of a hassle to do.

00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:54.001
At MicroStuff, we try to design products
to reduce that effort to the point where

00:16:54.001 --> 00:16:57.001
one of the things that I'd like to
say about Infoscope is that there

00:16:57.001 --> 00:16:59.001
isn't any question that isn't worth asking.

00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:02.001
That anything that you can come up with,
the naturalness of expression with the

00:17:02.001 --> 00:17:06.000
product and its quickness of
response makes it a natural for

00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:07.001
somebody that just never says,
gee, I wonder about this.

00:17:07.001 --> 00:17:09.001
I wonder if the salesmen in New Hampshire

00:17:09.001 --> 00:17:11.001
are doing better than the salesmen in Vermont.

00:17:11.001 --> 00:17:16.000
Or I wonder if these houses,
houses with hot tubs, cost more than houses

00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:17.001
that don't or stuff like that.

00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:21.000
And if you can present a system to somebody
that will make it so easy for them to

00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:24.000
get at that information and so quick in
response that they don't have to think

00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:26.000
about, is this more trouble than it's worth,

00:17:26.001 --> 00:17:28.000
they're going to be able to get a
lot more out of that information.

00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:33.000
When we come back, I'd like to kind of
wrap things up, but I want to get a much

00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:37.001
better feeling about this Infoscope in
terms of me as a practical application.

00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:39.001
Gosh.

00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:42.001
And also where you anticipate all this going.

00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:43.001
Okay?

00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:45.000
We'll be right back.

00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:47.000
This is Michael Walker with
our guest Jeff Garber.

00:17:47.001 --> 00:17:50.001
We're here at the famous
Computer Cafe and stay tuned.

00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:51.001
We'll be right back.

00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:12.000
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00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:15.001
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00:18:16.001 --> 00:18:19.001
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00:18:19.001 --> 00:18:21.000
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00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:25.000
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00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:29.001
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00:18:29.001 --> 00:18:32.000
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00:18:36.001 --> 00:18:38.001
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00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:42.001
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00:18:50.001 --> 00:18:52.001
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00:19:00.001 --> 00:19:05.001
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00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:11.000
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00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:19.001
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00:19:19.001 --> 00:19:22.001
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00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:26.000
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00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:28.001
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00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:31.000
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00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:45.001
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00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:50.000
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00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:52.001
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00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:56.001
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00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:58.001
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00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:04.001
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00:20:04.001 --> 00:20:09.001
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00:20:09.001 --> 00:20:12.001
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00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:19.001
We're back, and this is Michael Walker
here at the Famous Computer Cafe.

00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:26.000
We have been getting a lesson on crosstalk
and infoscope, and I'm still at the

00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:30.001
point, Jeff, where I'd like to get some
practical examples of this infoscope,

00:20:30.001 --> 00:20:32.001
because it is very business oriented.

00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:37.000
A business person in many different
disciplines can use a product like this.

00:20:37.001 --> 00:20:42.000
Give me some practical applications,
I mean, in a way that most of us can

00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:43.001
say, ah, this does apply to me.

00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:46.001
Okay, the best way to distinguish infoscope,
I think, from other products that

00:20:46.001 --> 00:20:51.000
fall into the sort of database manipulation
category is that most people, when

00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:54.000
they buy a computer, they go into the
store or whatever and they say, look, I

00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:57.000
want to, I have all this stuff,
and I need to put it in the computer, and

00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:58.001
then I need to get it back out again.

00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:02.001
And what a lot of times that people will say,
okay, what you need

00:21:02.001 --> 00:21:04.000
is a database management program.

00:21:04.001 --> 00:21:08.000
We call infoscope a dynamic information
management system, and that's, you know,

00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:10.000
we had to come up with a nice name to call it,
and it

00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:11.001
does pretty well describe what it's about.

00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:15.000
It's a system that is oriented
towards quickness of response.

00:21:15.001 --> 00:21:19.001
So if you are in an application where you
need to know something right away, if

00:21:19.001 --> 00:21:24.001
you're doing a broadcast and you are,
let's say, a sports broadcast, maybe, you

00:21:24.001 --> 00:21:28.001
have a list of players on the
roster and you need to find out

00:21:28.001 --> 00:21:30.000
what somebody's hometown is.

00:21:30.001 --> 00:21:33.001
You might even have infoscope set up so
where you could just push a single key

00:21:33.001 --> 00:21:36.001
and have that player's information wink
up on the screen in under a second, so

00:21:36.001 --> 00:21:41.000
then you'd be able to say, and so and so
from Tuscaloosa, you know, had X free

00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:43.001
throws last year and did this,
that, and the other thing.

00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:46.001
So you'd have instantaneous
access to that information.

00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:50.001
Again, the idea of cutting back
the amount of effort involved.

00:21:50.001 --> 00:21:53.000
If somebody had to figure out, you know,
bring a look at their calendar and say,

00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:57.000
well, let's say X Tuesday has 9 slash 6
slash 84, and then after that has 9 slash

00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:59.000
10 slash 84, and I don't want to type all that

00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:00.001
stuff in, yeah, they can live without it.

00:22:00.001 --> 00:22:02.000
You know,
they'd just rather take out their daytime

00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:03.001
and go, yep, I have this thing to do.

00:22:03.001 --> 00:22:07.001
But if you can get them that information
very quickly and with a minimum

00:22:07.001 --> 00:22:09.000
of effort on their part, then I think it's

00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:10.001
a tool that they're going to
be able to take advantage of.

00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:12.001
Now, how about the crosstalk?

00:22:12.001 --> 00:22:16.001
It basically will allow you to incorporate
this information in such a way or

00:22:16.001 --> 00:22:19.000
they're just basically two separate products.

00:22:19.001 --> 00:22:23.001
The products are separate products,
but for example, one could use infoscopes,

00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:28.000
say, where say I was trying to develop a
sales strategy and I was using infoscope

00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:32.001
to look back through, say, my last month sales,
and I asked infoscope to, okay, I

00:22:32.001 --> 00:22:36.001
have a thousand different transactions
here and I want to see these sorted by the

00:22:36.001 --> 00:22:38.001
amount of the sale,
the total amount of the sale.

00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:41.000
Infoscope will get that information back
to you and up on the screen in three

00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:42.001
seconds to sort those thousand records by

00:22:42.001 --> 00:22:44.000
that amount and have them back up there.

00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:46.000
So you say, well, that's not really
the information that I wanted.

00:22:46.001 --> 00:22:48.000
I'd rather see these,
I really need these things

00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:49.001
sorted by the name of the customer.

00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:52.000
Again, three seconds later,
you've got it on your screen.

00:22:52.001 --> 00:22:55.000
I say, okay, this is some information
and I've done this and I've done some

00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:56.001
computations and I've got some totals.

00:22:56.001 --> 00:23:00.000
I need to send this to the
branch on the East Coast.

00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:04.000
You take that information from infoscope,
have it put it out in a format that you

00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:07.001
can use in your word processor,
crank up your word processor and wrap a letter

00:23:07.001 --> 00:23:10.000
around it and, dear Joe,
this is the report that you wanted.

00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:13.001
Hope this information helps you meet your
sales goals for fiscal 1985, you know,

00:23:14.001 --> 00:23:16.000
how's the wife and kids, etc.

00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:21.000
Then you would bring up crosstalk and
send that information off to his personal

00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:24.000
computer or perhaps to his company mainframe
where he could download it as part

00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:27.000
of that mainframe's mail system or another
communications, for example, a remote

00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:29.000
and transporter products, have the capability

00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:31.000
to communicate with crosstalk as well.

00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:35.001
So that's where you get that sort of more of a,
they're not integrated software

00:23:35.001 --> 00:23:38.000
in that they all sort of sit around and
eat up your machine at once, but they do

00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:40.000
cooperate and enhance each other very nicely.

00:23:40.001 --> 00:23:45.001
So I know we talked just briefly about
the lab version and I wanted you to, you

00:23:45.001 --> 00:23:47.000
know, mention what that was about.

00:23:47.001 --> 00:23:48.000
Oh, right.

00:23:48.001 --> 00:23:52.001
I worked up a special laboratory version
of infoscope for Dr. Batartis, who's

00:23:52.001 --> 00:23:57.001
doing some research in the idea of
transitionality in an interface with a

00:23:57.001 --> 00:24:01.001
computer, meaning basically that you can
get better and worse if you need to and

00:24:01.001 --> 00:24:03.001
get more and less support from
the system as you work with it.

00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:09.000
The lab version is set up so that it will
actually keep records of what exactly a

00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:10.001
user does in any particular situation.

00:24:10.001 --> 00:24:14.000
And then at the end, he can go through and
do some computations and some analyses

00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:17.000
and say, yes, indeed, this,
our beliefs are correct.

00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:21.000
We found people that as they learned how
to use the system, they used the more

00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:24.000
abbreviated forms that were able
to get their work done quicker by

00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:26.000
taking advantage of the
features that were built in.

00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:29.000
So it keeps a log of, you know,
so and so typed in this word, misspelled it,

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:31.000
infoscope corrected the typing error, six

00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:32.001
seconds later they managed
to get that job done.

00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:33.000
Okay.

00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:35.001
At this time they abbreviated the command,
this time they pressed a function K

00:24:35.001 --> 00:24:37.001
and it keeps all that information for him.

00:24:38.001 --> 00:24:41.001
And it's kind of nice for him to be able
to have access to the guy that wrote the

00:24:41.001 --> 00:24:45.000
program to be able to modify it,
to have those sorts of things available to him.

00:24:45.001 --> 00:24:47.001
And he's getting a lot of very interesting
information out of that research.

00:24:47.001 --> 00:24:49.001
Where are you going with this
whole thing in the future?

00:24:50.001 --> 00:24:55.001
Well, let's see how future plans as we say are,
you know, I can't announce

00:24:55.001 --> 00:24:57.000
any new products or anything at this point.

00:24:57.001 --> 00:25:02.001
But I think you'll see new products from
Microsoft even more and more sensitive

00:25:02.001 --> 00:25:04.000
to this idea of transitionality.

00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:08.001
We feel that a lot of software designers
are being a little bit short-sighted and

00:25:08.001 --> 00:25:12.001
that they're looking only at the people
who are buying a computer today and they

00:25:12.001 --> 00:25:15.001
say, well, we need to give this person
something that they can use right now.

00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:19.001
We kind of feel that five years from
now we'll be addressing the largest

00:25:19.001 --> 00:25:23.001
community of proficient expert computer
users that there ever has been.

00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:26.001
And to expect those people to do things
in the same way that they did when they

00:25:26.001 --> 00:25:31.000
first bought a computer is, I often use
the analogy of it's like giving somebody

00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:33.000
a bicycle with training wheels
that you can't take off.

00:25:33.001 --> 00:25:35.000
You know, they want to say, look,
I want to get around all this stuff.

00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:36.000
I want to do something now.

00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:38.000
I don't want to go through four
different menus or have to do

00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:39.001
things the same way that I do when I started.

00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:42.000
But there are still always
going to be new people coming

00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:43.001
into the field that need that sort of support.

00:25:43.001 --> 00:25:47.000
So as you see new versions of products
and new products coming out of Microsoft,

00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:50.000
we're very dedicated to providing that
sort of transitionality, giving the novice

00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:52.001
the support that they need,
giving the expert the power and getting

00:25:52.001 --> 00:25:54.001
out of the way when they
need to get their job done.

00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:58.001
You know, I'll tell you this,
we run out of time, but this has been really,

00:25:58.001 --> 00:26:00.000
really educational for me.

00:26:00.001 --> 00:26:05.001
You know, I think that if your products
work as succinctly as you communicated

00:26:05.001 --> 00:26:09.000
this whole thing today, I think you
got yourself a winner on your hands.

00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:11.000
Thanks a lot for coming out to the cafe.

00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:14.001
As your new products come out,
I'd love to have you back on the show.

00:26:14.001 --> 00:26:15.001
Thanks very much for having me along, Michael.

00:26:15.001 --> 00:26:16.001
I enjoyed it very much.

00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:17.000
Thanks.

00:26:17.001 --> 00:26:17.001
Thank you.

00:26:18.001 --> 00:26:19.001
Look at that mountain.

00:26:20.001 --> 00:26:21.001
Look at those trees.

00:26:22.001 --> 00:26:24.000
Look at that farm over there, man.

00:26:24.001 --> 00:26:27.000
Look at these women.

00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:29.001
Ain't nothing like them nowhere.

00:26:34.001 --> 00:26:37.000
Start with the world's
best-selling database system.

00:26:37.001 --> 00:26:38.001
Give it enhanced features.

00:26:38.001 --> 00:26:41.001
Make it faster, more powerful,
and easier to use.

00:26:41.001 --> 00:26:44.000
You have the makings of a software heavyweight.

00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:45.000
DBase 3.

00:26:45.001 --> 00:26:48.001
Ascentate's hot new package for your 16-bit PC.

00:26:49.001 --> 00:26:55.000
With DBase 3, you can create records with
up to 128 fields, access 10 files at

00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:58.000
once, and run other programs,
like communications or word

00:26:58.000 --> 00:27:00.000
processing, without leaving DBase 3.

00:27:00.001 --> 00:27:04.001
You can read non-DBase files from other
software programs or mainframe databases.

00:27:04.001 --> 00:27:09.001
You can easily convert your DBase
2 files and programs to DBase 3.

00:27:09.001 --> 00:27:13.001
If you get stuck, help us at your
fingertips with multiple help screens.

00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:16.001
Where do you go to see
this powerful new program?

00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:20.001
Go see David and Betty Sun
at Sun Computers in Carson.

00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:24.001
They'll tell you what you need
to know about DBase 3 and more.

00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:30.000
Sun Computers is located at
20925 South Benita in Carson.

00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:34.001
Or call 213-538-8338.

00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:39.000
That's 213-538-8338.

00:27:39.001 --> 00:27:43.000
Sun Computers in Carson, a soft sale dealer.

00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:49.000
Whether today is your first day at the
famous computer cafe, or you're a real

00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:52.000
regular who hangs out every
night at the space bar here, you

00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:53.001
can't help but see that this joint is jumping.

00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:56.001
And if it looks busy to our customers, you can

00:27:56.001 --> 00:27:58.000
imagine what's going on behind the scenes.

00:27:58.000 --> 00:28:00.000
It's absolute craziness.

00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:01.001
So we're looking for some help.

00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:04.001
Before the end of the year,
we're planning on hiring people to assist us

00:28:04.001 --> 00:28:06.000
in running the famous computer cafe.

00:28:06.001 --> 00:28:09.000
We're looking for part-time,
full-time, and freelance people

00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:10.001
who are bright and energetic.

00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:13.001
You must have a passionate
interest in personal computers,

00:28:13.001 --> 00:28:15.001
but you don't have to be a technical wizard.

00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:18.000
You must be able to write,
review products, or sell

00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:20.001
advertising, or any combination of the above.

00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:22.001
And you must contact us in some way.

00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:25.000
So get out your pen and I'll tell you how.

00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:27.000
First of all, you can call or write.

00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:33.000
If you're interested in a sales position,
call me, Ellen, at 213-394-7242.

00:28:33.001 --> 00:28:35.000
That's 3947242.

00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:39.001
If you're interested in writing or reviewing
products, then please write to me,

00:28:39.001 --> 00:28:45.000
Ellen, at the famous computer cafe,
1322 Second Street, Suite 24, Santa

00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:47.000
Monica, California, 90401.

00:28:47.001 --> 00:28:53.000
That's 1322 Second Street, Suite 24,
Santa Monica, California, 90401.

00:28:53.001 --> 00:28:55.001
Make sure to include a
writing sample and a resume.

00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:59.001
The cafe is a great place to eat
and an even better place to work.

00:29:00.001 --> 00:29:02.001
If loathis had given you just one...

00:29:02.001 --> 00:29:06.001
One, a spreadsheet that's up to 50 times
faster than other spreadsheets with

00:29:06.001 --> 00:29:09.001
every statistical and financial
formula you'll ever need and

00:29:09.001 --> 00:29:11.000
the largest workspace on the market.

00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:12.000
That would have been enough.

00:29:12.001 --> 00:29:14.001
And if loathis had given you just two...

00:29:14.001 --> 00:29:18.001
Two, information management to store and
organize information with the ability to

00:29:18.001 --> 00:29:23.001
cross-index over 2,000 records by 32
criteria and use information from other

00:29:23.001 --> 00:29:25.000
programs and computer systems.

00:29:25.001 --> 00:29:26.000
That would have been enough.

00:29:26.001 --> 00:29:28.001
And if loathis had given you just three...

00:29:28.001 --> 00:29:32.000
Three, graphics to graph information
from your spreadsheet in less than two

00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:34.001
seconds and change that information,
touch a key

00:29:34.001 --> 00:29:36.001
and graph the new results instantly.

00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:38.000
Graphics as a thinking tool.

00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:39.000
That would have been enough.

00:29:39.001 --> 00:29:40.001
But loathis has given you more.

00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:44.001
Text editing, tutorials,
a help key and a host of features which give

00:29:44.001 --> 00:29:47.000
loathis123 its power and simplicity.

00:29:47.001 --> 00:29:53.001
Loathis123 is available at the Software Spot,
10977 Santa Monica Boulevard in

00:29:53.001 --> 00:29:58.001
West Los Angeles or, phone, 213-477-7561.

00:29:59.000 --> 00:30:06.000
That's 213-477-7561, the Software Spot,
the oldest independently owned

00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:09.001
and operated software store in Los Angeles,
a soft sale dealer.

00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:29.000
Hi, this is Andy Velkopin.

00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:31.000
We're here at the famous Computer Cafe.

00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:36.000
And right now we have with us John
Dorek who is throwing one heck

00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:38.000
of a party here at the cafe.

00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:39.000
John, how are you doing?

00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:39.001
Pretty good.

00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:41.000
We're having a little party.

00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:43.001
Just started actually and
I'm in pretty good shape.

00:30:44.001 --> 00:30:45.000
Yeah, yeah.

00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:47.001
Well, a few of your friends have shown up.

00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:52.000
Yeah, we've got, as a matter of fact,
we've got David All, Stewart Brand, Steve

00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:55.000
Levy, John Markoff, George Moroz here,
Will Hurst, of course, he's here.

00:30:55.001 --> 00:30:57.000
He's co-sponsoring this thing with me.

00:30:57.001 --> 00:30:59.000
Jerry Portnell, you know, just about everybody.

00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:01.001
Now, you write a column.

00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:03.001
You write a column for Infoworld, right?

00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:08.000
And tell me about the column.

00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:09.001
I mean, what do you see that as?

00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:15.000
Basically the column which is perceived
as a gossip column is really an

00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:17.000
experimental political essay.

00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:23.000
And what you run into is a, I'm going to close

00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:25.000
the door, but we'll go open it later.

00:31:25.001 --> 00:31:30.001
Basically,
it's an experimental essay that is couched in

00:31:30.001 --> 00:31:32.001
the terms of a gossip column.

00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:36.000
And if you look at the column carefully,
you'll find that I use some

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:38.001
peculiar techniques.

00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:42.000
And most of them are derived
from advertising copywriting

00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:43.001
as opposed to journalism.

00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:50.001
I think that people that are heavily
involved in technology are more used to

00:31:50.001 --> 00:31:54.001
reading advertising copy than they are
used to reading straight journalism.

00:31:55.001 --> 00:31:56.001
And I think they respond to it more positively.

00:31:57.001 --> 00:32:01.001
Do you think that they're used to reading
that copy because they've grown up with

00:32:01.001 --> 00:32:03.001
the media or because that's where they get

00:32:03.001 --> 00:32:05.001
information about what they're doing or what?

00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:09.001
Well, I think that they just feel
more comfortable with the style.

00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:15.000
I think the journalistic style that's
currently being used is a little, is still

00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:18.000
still, it's very old fashioned,
really sits back in the 20s.

00:32:19.001 --> 00:32:22.001
It's not as exciting as ad copy.

00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:26.000
And I think if you kind of combine the two,
you end up with something a little

00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:29.000
more readable and people get addicted
to it in a funny kind of a way.

00:32:29.001 --> 00:32:32.001
So is this the ultimate realization
of Marshall McLuhan that

00:32:32.001 --> 00:32:34.000
the medium is the message in some way?

00:32:34.001 --> 00:32:35.000
I think so.

00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:35.001
I think so.

00:32:35.001 --> 00:32:37.000
I'm a big fan of McLuhan's.

00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:39.000
I used to write essays about him,
as a matter of fact, in college.

00:32:40.001 --> 00:32:41.000
Didn't go over too well.

00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:43.000
It was a little early, I guess, for it.

00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:44.000
Let me ask you a question.

00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:51.001
If you were not limited by print media
to do your column, how would you do it?

00:32:51.001 --> 00:32:55.001
If there was some other way to do it,
some other medium, something you could

00:32:55.001 --> 00:33:00.000
think of, maybe something that's not been
invented yet or something that's not

00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:02.001
traditional that nobody else is doing,
what would it be if

00:33:02.001 --> 00:33:04.000
it was something other than print?

00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:08.000
I think experiment, you know, some
holographic image thing might be interesting,

00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:14.001
but you know, just straight TV would be
an interesting media to work with and

00:33:14.001 --> 00:33:18.000
try to develop something that was different.

00:33:18.001 --> 00:33:22.000
And unfortunately, even with this column
that I'm doing, it took me about six

00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:25.000
months to kind of come up with a formula
that I liked, I felt comfortable with.

00:33:25.001 --> 00:33:29.001
And right now I'm doing a column for
the San Francisco Examiner, which I'm

00:33:29.001 --> 00:33:33.000
currently working on a column for,
or I'm sorry, working on a formula for.

00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:41.001
And it's taking a while because the
standard print media has a kind of a

00:33:41.001 --> 00:33:43.001
bias against anything experimental.

00:33:45.001 --> 00:33:47.001
And it's just going to take
me a while to do that.

00:33:47.001 --> 00:33:50.000
And I think it would be the same thing
with more experimental, you know,

00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:55.000
something far out like television,
it would take me, it might take a long time to

00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:57.000
come up with something that
was unique enough that

00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:58.001
you'd have an addictive quality to it.

00:33:58.001 --> 00:34:00.000
That's what I try to shoot for.

00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:03.000
For some reason,
people want to read it over and over.

00:34:03.001 --> 00:34:07.001
And you don't even yourself know why the
heck it is because, you know, I'm not

00:34:07.001 --> 00:34:09.000
that thrilling a writer, that's for sure.

00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:14.000
You have a vantage point in
terms of seeing people in the

00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:15.001
industry, seeing what's happening.

00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:21.001
You make a practice of looking what's around,
thinking about it

00:34:21.001 --> 00:34:23.000
and writing about it.

00:34:23.001 --> 00:34:26.000
Who is interesting to watch right now?

00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:30.001
Actually, I think some of the new companies,
so far as companies are concerned, I

00:34:30.001 --> 00:34:34.001
think any new upstart company that comes
out is interesting, whoever they are.

00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:38.001
Apple's interesting, IBM's interesting
is basically where the action is if you

00:34:38.001 --> 00:34:41.001
want to write about the big guys that
are out there producing a lot of

00:34:41.001 --> 00:34:43.001
product and influencing a lot of people.

00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:49.001
Maybe software companies like Microsoft
and Lotus, maybe eventually digital

00:34:49.001 --> 00:34:52.000
research again will be
interesting and watchable.

00:34:52.001 --> 00:34:55.000
Those are basically the guys that you watch a

00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:56.001
lot and then you try to bring other people in.

00:34:56.001 --> 00:35:02.000
What I try to do is blast the big guys
like AT&T, IBM and people like that and

00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:03.001
then give the little guys a lot of promotion.

00:35:04.001 --> 00:35:06.000
I feel, you know, I think it's an obligation.

00:35:07.000 --> 00:35:09.000
Okay, well,
we're going to take a break right now.

00:35:09.000 --> 00:35:12.000
When we come back, I'd like to get into that,
see who some of these

00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:13.001
little guys are, what they're doing.

00:35:14.000 --> 00:35:15.001
You heard the famous Computer Cafe.

00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:19.000
This is Andy Velkoff and we've
been talking with John Dvorak.

00:35:19.001 --> 00:35:20.000
Stay tuned.

00:35:20.001 --> 00:35:24.001
Together, nothing gets about to break.

00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:30.000
If I listen close, I can hear them singing.

00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:36.000
Today I'd like to discuss
MultiPlan by Microsoft.

00:35:36.000 --> 00:35:37.000
What's a MultiPlan?

00:35:37.001 --> 00:35:40.001
It's a spreadsheet program for
your IBM PC or your Macintosh.

00:35:41.001 --> 00:35:43.000
What do you do with a MultiPlan?

00:35:43.000 --> 00:35:44.001
Use it to make forecasts.

00:35:45.001 --> 00:35:47.000
You mean like what the weather will be?

00:35:47.001 --> 00:35:49.000
No, more like weather or not.

00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:51.000
Can I join MultiPlan?

00:35:51.001 --> 00:35:52.001
No, you don't join it.

00:35:52.001 --> 00:35:53.000
You use it.

00:35:53.001 --> 00:35:57.000
It's a tool designed with non-computer
people in mind to help you manage

00:35:57.000 --> 00:35:58.001
your business and plan for the future.

00:35:59.000 --> 00:35:59.001
A tool?

00:35:59.001 --> 00:36:01.000
Oh, you mean like a hammer.

00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:04.001
Well, if you're looking for a way
to hit the nail on the head, use

00:36:04.001 --> 00:36:06.001
MultiPlan to build your worksheet.

00:36:06.001 --> 00:36:10.001
Enter the formulas you normally use to
do budgets or cash flow analysis or

00:36:10.001 --> 00:36:13.001
financial planning and then let
MultiPlan do the calculations

00:36:13.001 --> 00:36:15.001
while you sit back and watch.

00:36:15.001 --> 00:36:16.001
Where can I see it?

00:36:16.001 --> 00:36:21.001
At Software Center International,
located at 22543 South

00:36:21.001 --> 00:36:23.001
Hawthorne Boulevard in Torrance.

00:36:23.001 --> 00:36:27.001
Or call 213-378-9225.

00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:31.000
That's 213-378-9225.

00:36:31.001 --> 00:36:35.000
Software Center International in Torrance,
a soft sell dealer.

00:36:41.001 --> 00:36:45.001
As our way of thanking all our new
listeners here at the famous Computer Cafe,

00:36:45.001 --> 00:36:51.000
we're giving away a free Commodore 64
computer and a dinner for two at one of the

00:36:51.000 --> 00:36:55.000
loveliest restaurants in all of Los Angeles,
just in time for the holidays.

00:36:55.000 --> 00:36:59.000
And all you need to do is send us a card
with your name, address, phone number,

00:36:59.001 --> 00:37:02.000
and the name and the type of
personal computer you currently

00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:03.001
own or would like to own.

00:37:03.001 --> 00:37:08.001
Send all this information to the famous
Computer Cafe giveaway. 1322 Second

00:37:08.001 --> 00:37:13.001
Street, Suite 24 Santa Monica,
California, 90401.

00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:26.001
We'll be putting all the cards in a hat
and drawing two winners which we'll

00:37:26.001 --> 00:37:29.001
announce on the air on December 17th.

00:37:29.001 --> 00:37:32.001
First prize, a brand new Commodore 64 computer.

00:37:33.000 --> 00:37:37.001
Second prize will be dinner for two
at one of LA's favorite restaurants.

00:37:37.001 --> 00:37:43.001
So, send your entries today to the famous
Computer Cafe giveaway. 1322 Second

00:37:43.001 --> 00:37:48.000
Street, Suite 24, Santa Monica,
California, 90401.

00:37:48.000 --> 00:37:49.001
Enter today!

00:37:51.000 --> 00:37:53.001
Hi, we're back and you're here
at the famous Computer Cafe.

00:37:53.001 --> 00:37:55.001
This is Andy Velkoff and we're
talking with John Dorek.

00:37:56.000 --> 00:37:56.001
John?

00:37:57.000 --> 00:37:58.001
John, yeah, that's John.

00:37:59.000 --> 00:38:00.001
A couple of friends have dropped by.

00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:02.000
Have you got any beer?

00:38:03.000 --> 00:38:03.001
No, no [...]

00:38:04.001 --> 00:38:05.001
No, okay.

00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:06.001
[...]

00:38:07.000 --> 00:38:10.000
Okay, these guys are really parting it up.

00:38:11.000 --> 00:38:14.000
Celebrating Comdex,
just got back from Las Vegas I guess.

00:38:15.001 --> 00:38:20.001
John, who is new in the industry
and who should we be looking at?

00:38:20.001 --> 00:38:25.000
I know that there are a lot of folks who,
companies that we've heard of, we

00:38:25.000 --> 00:38:26.001
see their advertising all the time.

00:38:26.001 --> 00:38:29.001
But I'd like to know people who
we might not have heard of.

00:38:29.001 --> 00:38:32.001
People who don't get the kind of press
that you think that they should.

00:38:32.001 --> 00:38:34.001
And people who are doing interesting things.

00:38:35.000 --> 00:38:36.001
Maybe some of the small guys out there.

00:38:36.001 --> 00:38:37.001
Who should we be looking at?

00:38:38.000 --> 00:38:44.001
Well, I'm kind of enthralled with
typesetting concepts like a product called

00:38:44.001 --> 00:38:47.000
Fon Tricks,
which I think is in Denver, Colorado.

00:38:49.001 --> 00:38:53.000
Pretty print I think is the name
of a product that is quite nice.

00:38:53.000 --> 00:38:57.001
You can always do what looks like
typesetting on a cheap Epson RX80 printer.

00:38:59.001 --> 00:39:04.001
Things like that,
things that are uniquely useful and obscure.

00:39:05.001 --> 00:39:09.001
Unfortunately, the problem isn't so much
finding a lot of little companies that

00:39:09.001 --> 00:39:11.001
are interesting in it,
because there's really tons of them.

00:39:12.000 --> 00:39:14.001
The problem is that software
companies don't carry their

00:39:14.001 --> 00:39:16.001
products, the big distributors
don't carry their products.

00:39:17.000 --> 00:39:19.000
And this boutique software
is very difficult to find.

00:39:19.001 --> 00:39:22.001
It's very hard to buy it from anyone,
except directly from the company.

00:39:22.001 --> 00:39:26.001
It's just becoming a real
distribution problem is terrible.

00:39:26.001 --> 00:39:30.001
And these little guys are just hanging
on for a while, they can do okay when

00:39:30.001 --> 00:39:32.000
their product first comes out.

00:39:32.000 --> 00:39:36.001
Then the next thing you know,
they just can't get their product distributed.

00:39:36.001 --> 00:39:38.000
And you can't buy it,
you can't buy something else.

00:39:38.001 --> 00:39:40.000
And I feel sorry for all these little guys.

00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:45.001
I know that it's tough competition there,
and we've heard recently that IBM

00:39:45.001 --> 00:39:47.001
is getting into the software market.

00:39:47.001 --> 00:39:51.001
And what's it going to look like?
What are we looking at in the next couple of

00:39:51.001 --> 00:39:53.001
years, in the next two,
three, four, five years?

00:39:54.001 --> 00:39:55.001
Popular computing.

00:39:56.001 --> 00:40:01.000
You know, where is the industry headed?
Where's the creativity going to come from

00:40:01.000 --> 00:40:03.001
in the next two, three, four, five years?

00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:06.001
Well, obviously,
it's not going to come from IBM.

00:40:07.001 --> 00:40:11.000
I think IBM entering the software market
full of force is a big mistake on their

00:40:11.000 --> 00:40:15.000
part, because all microcomputers
have been largely successful

00:40:15.000 --> 00:40:16.001
because of third-party developers.

00:40:16.001 --> 00:40:20.001
And third-party developers, if they
think IBM is going to burn them off, are

00:40:20.001 --> 00:40:23.001
going to go write software for the Macintosh,
or the Amiga, or

00:40:23.001 --> 00:40:25.000
who knows what the Atari machine.

00:40:26.001 --> 00:40:31.000
And I think it might be a strategic error
on the part of IBM to get this involved

00:40:31.000 --> 00:40:33.001
in the software business as they're
getting involved at this level.

00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:37.000
That is the microcomputer industry,
software business.

00:40:38.001 --> 00:40:43.001
Apple has probably got a much better
handle on the right way to deal with

00:40:43.001 --> 00:40:47.000
software, which is they encourage
to the hilt third-party developers.

00:40:47.001 --> 00:40:50.001
And I think it's a long-term strategy
that's been paying off for them.

00:40:50.001 --> 00:40:53.001
And then they have their
software evangelist strategy.

00:40:54.001 --> 00:40:59.000
Right.
And I think that's a heck of a good strategy.

00:41:00.000 --> 00:41:06.000
Unless they change or try to become IBM
or whatever, Apple will have a long-term

00:41:06.000 --> 00:41:08.001
growth that I think will
surprise a lot of people.

00:41:09.001 --> 00:41:13.000
John, let me ask you, I'm going to shift
gears here for a minute before we leave.

00:41:13.001 --> 00:41:14.001
How did you get started?

00:41:16.000 --> 00:41:20.000
How did you first become interested in
computing? What was the germ of interest?

00:41:21.000 --> 00:41:23.001
It was 1975, actually. I was at the

00:41:23.001 --> 00:41:25.000
Lawrence Hall of Science down in the basement.

00:41:25.001 --> 00:41:28.000
I think they had a deck machine
down there or something.

00:41:28.000 --> 00:41:32.001
And there was just hundreds of kids
programming on these teletype machines.

00:41:33.001 --> 00:41:36.001
And there were just a lot of these kids.

00:41:37.000 --> 00:41:40.000
And I looked around and I said,
I just dawned on them.

00:41:40.000 --> 00:41:43.000
I said, hey, if I don't find out I'm
getting involved with computers real

00:41:43.000 --> 00:41:44.001
fast, I'm going to be working for these punks.

00:41:45.001 --> 00:41:50.000
And so I started taking computer
science courses and learned to program

00:41:50.000 --> 00:41:51.001
on HP 3000.

00:41:51.001 --> 00:41:55.000
And eventually got involved
with the microcomputer industry

00:41:55.000 --> 00:41:56.001
when it started in about 1976.

00:41:57.001 --> 00:42:00.000
And I just became a hobbyist.
I'm kind of a fanatic.

00:42:00.000 --> 00:42:02.001
And so I just went from there.

00:42:03.001 --> 00:42:07.000
Okay, well, John, I've really enjoyed
you being here on the show here

00:42:07.000 --> 00:42:08.001
at the famous Computer Cafe.

00:42:08.001 --> 00:42:11.001
And this is one heck of a part that you're
throwing here for all your friends.

00:42:12.000 --> 00:42:14.001
And I'd like to ask you to
come back as things develop,

00:42:15.000 --> 00:42:16.001
as you'd like to share some things with us.

00:42:16.001 --> 00:42:18.000
Please feel free to be our guest.

00:42:18.001 --> 00:42:19.000
Thanks a lot, Andy.

00:42:19.000 --> 00:42:23.000
This is Andy Velkopf,
and you're here at the famous Computer Cafe.

00:42:23.000 --> 00:42:24.000
Stay tuned, guys.

00:42:39.000 --> 00:42:40.001
Word gets around fast.

00:42:41.000 --> 00:42:45.000
Word from Microsoft is quickly becoming
the word processing program of choice

00:42:45.000 --> 00:42:47.000
because word is faster and easier.

00:42:47.000 --> 00:42:49.001
Most commands are executed
in a single keystroke.

00:42:50.000 --> 00:42:53.000
And with Microsoft's mouse,
not even a keystroke is needed.

00:42:53.001 --> 00:42:54.001
Just point and click.

00:42:55.000 --> 00:42:56.001
Would you like to reword that?

00:42:57.000 --> 00:43:01.000
Sure. If you've ever had to search through
a 50-page document to change one word,

00:43:01.000 --> 00:43:05.001
you can appreciate word's ability to search
at and replace any character, number,

00:43:06.000 --> 00:43:10.001
word, or phrase in any document,
just once or as many times as you like.

00:43:11.000 --> 00:43:12.000
Windows on the word.

00:43:12.000 --> 00:43:16.000
Word gives you eight windows that
allows you to edit or compare different

00:43:16.000 --> 00:43:19.001
documents simultaneously or work
on different areas of the same

00:43:19.001 --> 00:43:21.001
document, all in one display.

00:43:21.001 --> 00:43:22.001
Get the word.

00:43:23.000 --> 00:43:29.001
Word is available at Software Supermarket,
16200 Hawthorne Boulevard, or call 213

00:43:29.001 --> 00:43:32.000
-207-1494.

00:43:32.001 --> 00:43:36.000
That's 213-207-1494.

00:43:36.001 --> 00:43:37.001
Get the word.

00:43:37.001 --> 00:43:40.001
At the Software Supermarket,
a soft sale dealer.

00:43:40.001 --> 00:43:45.000
SuperCalc 3 by Sorsem is a spreadsheet
that's extremely easy to use, swift, and

00:43:45.000 --> 00:43:48.001
powerful, and it's priced lower than
most other leading spreadsheet programs.

00:43:49.000 --> 00:43:52.000
SuperCalc 3 has all the built-in
functions expected in a high

00:43:52.000 --> 00:43:54.000
-quality spreadsheet and a lot more.

00:43:54.001 --> 00:43:58.000
SuperCalc 3's features include an
on-screen help function, spreadsheet

00:43:58.000 --> 00:44:02.001
consolidation and sorting capabilities,
calendar and date calculations, simple

00:44:02.001 --> 00:44:04.001
data management functions, and windowing.

00:44:05.000 --> 00:44:09.001
The integrated graphics capability is
superbly presented, allowing plotting and

00:44:09.001 --> 00:44:11.001
printing of charts in up to 99 colors.

00:44:12.001 --> 00:44:15.001
SuperCalc 3 provides you with the
ability to create pie charts, bar

00:44:15.001 --> 00:44:17.001
charts, line charts, and xy graphs.

00:44:18.000 --> 00:44:21.000
The graphics are integrated into the
command structure, so once you learn

00:44:21.000 --> 00:44:24.000
SuperCalc 3,
plotting and graphing the results of your

00:44:24.000 --> 00:44:25.001
calculations is as easy as pie.

00:44:26.000 --> 00:44:30.001
To get a taste of the simplicity and
power of SuperCalc 3, walk into Simply

00:44:30.001 --> 00:44:33.000
Software, where they'd love to
whip up a quick demonstration.

00:44:33.000 --> 00:44:38.001
Simply Software is located at 3001 B.
Sepulveda Boulevard in Manhattan Beach, or

00:44:38.001 --> 00:44:44.000
call 213-546-2467.
Simply Software, a soft sell dealer.

00:44:57.001 --> 00:45:04.001
Hi, this is Andy Velkoff,
and we're here at the famous Computer Cafe, and

00:45:04.001 --> 00:45:09.000
I'm sitting with Katie Uldman from Passport
Software. Katie, welcome to the cafe.

00:45:09.001 --> 00:45:10.001
Thank you, Andy.

00:45:10.001 --> 00:45:16.001
Now, Passport has been just introduced
recently at Comdex in Las Vegas,

00:45:17.001 --> 00:45:20.001
a software package that incorporates rock

00:45:20.001 --> 00:45:22.000
music. Can you tell me something about that?

00:45:22.000 --> 00:45:26.001
Sure, Andy. The first package that
we've released at the Comdex show is

00:45:26.001 --> 00:45:28.000
called our Computer Hitwear Package.

00:45:28.001 --> 00:45:33.001
What it actually is is a big color booklet
and lyrics of different groups, rock

00:45:33.001 --> 00:45:36.000
groups like Duran Duran, the police, Bruce

00:45:36.000 --> 00:45:38.000
Springsteen, and other rock groups like that.

00:45:38.000 --> 00:45:42.001
And what we've enclosed with these booklets
now is a computer disc, that when you

00:45:42.001 --> 00:45:47.001
play it in your computer, it's fire organ
graphics, which are four color, really

00:45:47.001 --> 00:45:52.000
neat looking graphics for the Commodore 64,
that are synchronized to different

00:45:52.000 --> 00:45:55.001
popular tunes to Duran Duran and all the
rest of the groups that I mentioned.

00:45:56.000 --> 00:45:59.001
So it's just kind of a new wave,
and computers right now, it's something

00:45:59.001 --> 00:46:01.001
different to do with your computers, rather

00:46:01.001 --> 00:46:03.000
than the regular business applications.

00:46:03.000 --> 00:46:07.001
Well, you know, I know you brought a
number of things with you, the number of

00:46:07.001 --> 00:46:10.001
pieces of hardware and some software I
can hear in the background, that some

00:46:10.001 --> 00:46:13.000
folks on the other side of the
cafe are playing around on now.

00:46:13.000 --> 00:46:14.001
We're going to get over there in a couple of

00:46:14.001 --> 00:46:16.000
minutes and listen to some of this stuff.

00:46:16.001 --> 00:46:21.001
But I want to ask you, is this a whole new
wave, or are we looking at the merging

00:46:21.001 --> 00:46:24.001
of pop music and technology here?

00:46:24.001 --> 00:46:28.001
I think it is a whole new wave.
Right now, computer music is a

00:46:28.001 --> 00:46:30.001
brand new type of software.

00:46:31.000 --> 00:46:35.000
Condex, we're right now the only music
software company that attended the show.

00:46:36.000 --> 00:46:37.001
And I think people are just
looking for a different

00:46:37.001 --> 00:46:39.001
outlet with their computers right now.

00:46:40.000 --> 00:46:41.001
And music is it, pretty much.

00:46:42.000 --> 00:46:45.001
Computer music seems to be replacing
the traditional types of music,

00:46:45.001 --> 00:46:47.000
and even the traditional sheet music.

00:46:48.000 --> 00:46:51.001
It's a lot more fun and just a lot more
entertaining way to learn music now,

00:46:51.001 --> 00:46:53.000
and compose music with.

00:46:54.000 --> 00:46:57.000
Now,
so I go out and I get this piece of software.

00:46:57.000 --> 00:47:02.000
And I think you said Duran Duran,
Bruce Springsteen, and whatnot.

00:47:02.000 --> 00:47:04.000
And I pop it in my computer and I turn it on.

00:47:04.001 --> 00:47:06.001
What can I do with it? Does it just

00:47:06.001 --> 00:47:08.001
play? Can I interact with it? What's the story?

00:47:09.000 --> 00:47:11.001
Well,
it actually depends on which package you get.

00:47:12.000 --> 00:47:16.000
Our computer hit where you put it in,
and then there's several different buttons

00:47:16.000 --> 00:47:18.000
that you can choose that will stop the graphics

00:47:18.000 --> 00:47:20.000
or synchronize it different to the music.

00:47:20.001 --> 00:47:25.000
We also have a music composing program
that actually lets you compose music

00:47:25.000 --> 00:47:26.001
with a joystick.

00:47:26.001 --> 00:47:28.000
You don't even need a keyboard.

00:47:28.001 --> 00:47:32.001
And all you simply do is draw music
notes onto the screen, play them

00:47:32.001 --> 00:47:35.000
back, and that's all there is to it.

00:47:35.000 --> 00:47:37.001
And then you have different editing
procedures that you can use.

00:47:38.000 --> 00:47:41.001
And it's $49.95,
and that's all you need to compose music with

00:47:41.001 --> 00:47:43.001
compared to what a piano costs these days.

00:47:44.000 --> 00:47:48.000
It's not bad. Now, is that when you draw
it on the screen, do you see something

00:47:48.000 --> 00:47:52.000
like a musical staff, like traditional
notation, or is it something that has

00:47:52.000 --> 00:47:53.001
been devised for this program?

00:47:54.000 --> 00:47:55.001
No, we've gotten away from that.

00:47:55.001 --> 00:48:00.000
A couple other companies have devised
some music software programs.

00:48:00.000 --> 00:48:04.001
We had to memorize about 100 different
keystrokes on your keyboard, which is real

00:48:04.001 --> 00:48:06.001
difficult. It'll take about
three days to learn the program.

00:48:07.000 --> 00:48:11.001
What we've done is had about 20 different
instruments, all representing different

00:48:11.001 --> 00:48:16.000
colors, and you simply draw these
instruments on with a paintbrush, and the

00:48:16.000 --> 00:48:18.000
paintbrush will also represent that color.

00:48:18.001 --> 00:48:21.001
So what it means is a two-year-old
could come in there and compose

00:48:21.001 --> 00:48:23.000
music by simply drawing it on.

00:48:23.000 --> 00:48:26.000
If you do have some music ability,
you can use our four-octave

00:48:26.000 --> 00:48:28.000
keyboard that also works with the program.

00:48:28.001 --> 00:48:33.001
Well, no, I studied music years ago,
so I can read music, but I can't, and I've

00:48:33.001 --> 00:48:38.000
got a sense for it, but a few of my relatives,
I can't say the same four.

00:48:38.001 --> 00:48:43.001
So what you mean to say is that if
someone doesn't know much about music and

00:48:43.001 --> 00:48:47.001
doesn't have any training, they can sit
down with this and create something

00:48:47.001 --> 00:48:49.000
for themselves. Is that what you're saying?

00:48:49.001 --> 00:48:52.000
Exactly.
What it is is we've pretty much put together

00:48:52.000 --> 00:48:53.001
the ultimate stand-alone program.

00:48:54.000 --> 00:48:57.001
Anybody can come in there, draw a line,
and they've composed music.

00:48:57.001 --> 00:48:58.001
It's as simple as that.

00:48:59.000 --> 00:49:00.001
Even if you can't sing on key?

00:49:00.001 --> 00:49:02.000
Even if you can't sing on key.

00:49:02.001 --> 00:49:06.000
Oh, I'll have to tell my
uncle Richard about that one.

00:49:06.000 --> 00:49:09.001
Okay, well, hey, we're going to take a
break right now, and when we come back,

00:49:10.000 --> 00:49:12.001
I'd like to mosey on over to
the other side of the cafe.

00:49:13.000 --> 00:49:16.001
Let's see if we can, you know,
clear through the crowd that's surrounding the

00:49:16.001 --> 00:49:19.001
machines that you brought,
and take a look at some of the software, okay?

00:49:20.000 --> 00:49:21.000
Okay, terrific, again.

00:49:21.000 --> 00:49:23.001
Guys,
you're listening to the famous Computer Cafe.

00:49:24.000 --> 00:49:27.000
This is Andy Velkopf. Stay tuned.
We'll be back after this.

00:49:30.000 --> 00:49:33.000
MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC

00:49:40.000 --> 00:49:44.000
Bank Street Rider by Broderbund is the
one-word processing program that's

00:49:44.000 --> 00:49:48.000
unpretentious enough to be used at home
by both children and adults, yet is

00:49:48.000 --> 00:49:50.001
sophisticated enough to meet
most small business needs.

00:49:51.000 --> 00:49:54.001
Bank Street Rider is packed with powerful
features that have made it the most

00:49:54.001 --> 00:49:56.001
popular home word processing
program in the world.

00:49:57.000 --> 00:49:59.000
There are no complex codes to memorize.

00:49:59.001 --> 00:50:02.000
Directions are at the top of the screen,
every step of the way.

00:50:02.001 --> 00:50:06.000
Bank Street Rider gives you sophisticated
features like automatic word wrap,

00:50:06.001 --> 00:50:11.000
universal search and replace, automatic
centering, and easy storage and retrieval

00:50:11.000 --> 00:50:14.000
of anything you write,
complete with password protection.

00:50:14.000 --> 00:50:18.000
Bank Street Rider also comes complete with
a special tutorial on the back of the

00:50:18.000 --> 00:50:20.001
disc that teaches the
basics of word processing.

00:50:21.001 --> 00:50:25.000
A comprehensive reference manual and
a free backup disc are also included.

00:50:25.001 --> 00:50:27.000
Want to try your hand at Bank Street Rider?

00:50:27.001 --> 00:50:33.000
Then follow your feet down to Strictly
Software at 14617 ½ Prairie Avenue in

00:50:33.000 --> 00:50:37.001
Lawndale, or you can call 213-970-1242.

00:50:38.000 --> 00:50:41.000
Strictly Software in Lawndale,
a soft sell dealer.

00:50:45.000 --> 00:50:49.000
Whether today is your first day at the
Famous Computer Cafe, or you're a real

00:50:49.000 --> 00:50:52.001
regular who hangs out every
night at the space bar here, you

00:50:52.001 --> 00:50:54.000
can't help but see that this joint is jumpin'.

00:50:54.001 --> 00:50:56.001
And if it looks busy to our customers, you can

00:50:56.001 --> 00:50:58.001
imagine what's going on behind the scenes.

00:50:59.001 --> 00:51:00.000
Absolute craziness.

00:51:00.001 --> 00:51:02.000
So we're looking for some help.

00:51:02.000 --> 00:51:05.000
Before the end of the year,
we're planning on hiring people to assist us

00:51:05.000 --> 00:51:06.001
in running the Famous Computer Cafe.

00:51:07.000 --> 00:51:09.001
We're looking for part-time,
full-time, and freelance people

00:51:09.001 --> 00:51:11.001
who are bright and energetic.

00:51:12.000 --> 00:51:14.000
You must have a passionate
interest in personal computers,

00:51:14.001 --> 00:51:16.000
but you don't have to be a technical wizard.

00:51:16.001 --> 00:51:19.000
You must be able to write,
review products, or sell

00:51:19.000 --> 00:51:21.000
advertising, or any combination of the above.

00:51:21.001 --> 00:51:23.001
And you must contact us in some way.

00:51:23.001 --> 00:51:25.001
So get out your pen and I'll tell you how.

00:51:26.000 --> 00:51:27.001
First of all, you can call or write.

00:51:28.000 --> 00:51:33.001
If you're interested in a sales position,
call me, Ellen, at 213-394-7242.

00:51:35.000 --> 00:51:36.000
That's 3947242.

00:51:37.000 --> 00:51:40.001
If you're interested in writing or reviewing
products, then please write to me,

00:51:40.001 --> 00:51:46.000
Ellen, at the Famous Computer Cafe,
1322 Second Street, Suite 24, Santa

00:51:46.000 --> 00:51:48.000
Monica, California, 90401.

00:51:48.001 --> 00:51:54.000
That's 1322 Second Street, Suite 24,
Santa Monica, California, 90401.

00:51:54.001 --> 00:51:56.001
Make sure to include a
writing sample and a resume.

00:51:57.000 --> 00:52:00.001
The cafe is a great place to eat
and an even better place to work.

00:52:01.000 --> 00:52:02.000
So call or write today.

00:52:08.001 --> 00:52:15.000
Hi, we're back and we're here
at the Famous Computer Cafe,

00:52:15.001 --> 00:52:18.001
and I'm standing with Katie Altman
here over in the corner of the cafe.

00:52:18.001 --> 00:52:22.000
And Katie's brought a computer
and I guess a Commodore

00:52:22.000 --> 00:52:23.001
64, and she's got a monitor here.

00:52:24.000 --> 00:52:26.000
And you've got your software booted up,

00:52:26.000 --> 00:52:27.001
and we're going to hear a little Duran Duran.

00:52:28.000 --> 00:52:28.000
[...]

00:52:28.001 --> 00:52:29.001
All right? Go ahead.

00:52:34.001 --> 00:52:37.000
Take a couple of few seconds to get going.

00:52:38.000 --> 00:52:40.000
Okay. First of all, you pick the song,
which I've just picked

00:52:40.000 --> 00:52:41.001
Duran Duran's Hungry Like a Wolf.

00:52:42.001 --> 00:52:46.000
And then the next menu that comes up
is a fire organ graphics, and you have

00:52:46.000 --> 00:52:48.000
10 different graphics to choose from.

00:52:48.001 --> 00:52:51.001
And then it goes ahead and
synchronizes a graphic to the music.

00:53:16.001 --> 00:53:20.001
Now, as we're listening to this,
what we're seeing is, I

00:53:20.001 --> 00:53:22.000
guess, these fire graphics.

00:53:22.000 --> 00:53:27.000
I see a gray screen and there's orange
and kind of an electric orange and black

00:53:27.000 --> 00:53:33.000
and purple and all kinds of lines and
shades just revolving around in pure

00:53:33.000 --> 00:53:34.001
abstract forms.

00:53:36.000 --> 00:53:36.001
[...]

00:53:37.000 --> 00:53:40.000
What it is is you have about 10
different graphics to choose from.

00:53:40.001 --> 00:53:41.001
Some of them are different waveforms.

00:53:42.000 --> 00:53:43.001
Other of them are star types.

00:53:44.001 --> 00:53:47.001
And if you want to fade graphics in and
out to music, you simply push the fade

00:53:47.001 --> 00:53:50.000
button,
and you can go ahead and control it that way.

00:53:50.001 --> 00:53:54.001
We also have a spacebar that you can
stop at any time you'd like it to, or

00:53:54.001 --> 00:53:58.001
another bar which changes the background
color any time during the graphic.

00:53:59.001 --> 00:54:04.000
I tell you, I find it really mesmerizing,
as we're standing here looking at this

00:54:04.000 --> 00:54:07.001
thing, I kind of begin to lose it after
a while, and I just want to watch these

00:54:07.001 --> 00:54:10.001
things go around the screen
and just kind of tune off.

00:54:11.000 --> 00:54:12.000
Does it have that effect with most people?

00:54:12.001 --> 00:54:14.001
It's a very memorizing effect, right?

00:54:15.000 --> 00:54:18.001
When we showed at Comdex, quite a few
people just came by the booth and they'd

00:54:18.001 --> 00:54:21.000
stand there for about 15 minutes
because it's so mesmerizing.

00:54:21.001 --> 00:54:26.000
The very nice, detailed graphics,
very sophisticated graphics, and the

00:54:26.000 --> 00:54:27.001
best I've seen for the Commodore 64.

00:54:27.001 --> 00:54:32.001
Now the screen just turned black,
and now we have very light-colored white and

00:54:32.001 --> 00:54:34.000
orange on a black background.

00:54:34.000 --> 00:54:35.000
That's really stunning.

00:54:35.001 --> 00:54:39.001
Yeah, the colors are very stunning.
They're very fluorescent colors, and the

00:54:39.001 --> 00:54:42.001
movements are very, very graceful,
the way they're synchronized to each tune.

00:54:43.001 --> 00:54:45.000
Very enjoyable graphics to watch.

00:54:51.000 --> 00:54:55.000
And of course, other than Duran Duran,
you have the Police, Van

00:54:55.000 --> 00:54:57.000
Halen, Bruce Springsteen.

00:54:58.000 --> 00:54:58.001
That's terrific.

00:54:59.000 --> 00:55:02.001
Yeah, well, what we're going to do is,
as the popular albums come out, we're

00:55:02.001 --> 00:55:06.000
going to come out with graphics and
songbooks to go along with them.

00:55:06.001 --> 00:55:09.001
And we'll sell them in record stores,
music stores, computer stores, so

00:55:09.001 --> 00:55:11.000
they're available to everybody very easily.

00:55:12.000 --> 00:55:16.001
Okay, well, Katie, this has been a real
pleasure, and I thank you for coming down

00:55:16.001 --> 00:55:18.001
to the cafe and bringing
all this stuff with you.

00:55:19.000 --> 00:55:23.000
And, you know, as things develop and as
some new releases come out, we'd love to

00:55:23.000 --> 00:55:25.000
have you back here and tell us about them.

00:55:25.000 --> 00:55:26.000
Great. Thanks so much, Andy.

00:55:26.001 --> 00:55:29.001
Okay. Guys, you're at the famous Computer Cafe.

00:55:29.001 --> 00:55:32.001
This is Andy Velkopf. Stay tuned.
We'll be back after this.

00:55:48.000 --> 00:55:52.001
🎵 Start with the world's
best-selling database system.

00:55:53.000 --> 00:55:57.000
Give it enhanced features. Make it faster,
more powerful, and easier to use.

00:55:57.001 --> 00:56:02.000
And you have the makings of a software
heavyweight, D-BASE 3, Ashton Tate's hot

00:56:02.000 --> 00:56:04.001
new package for your 16-bit PC.

00:56:05.000 --> 00:56:10.001
With D-BASE 3, you can create records
with up to 128 fields, access 10 files at

00:56:10.001 --> 00:56:13.001
once, and run other programs,
like communications or word

00:56:13.001 --> 00:56:15.001
processing, without leaving D-BASE 3.

00:56:16.000 --> 00:56:20.000
You can read non-D-BASE files from
other software programs or mainframe

00:56:20.000 --> 00:56:23.001
databases,
and you can easily convert your D-BASE 2 files

00:56:23.001 --> 00:56:25.000
and programs to D-BASE 3.

00:56:25.001 --> 00:56:29.000
If you get stuck, help is at your
fingertips with multiple help screens.

00:56:30.000 --> 00:56:32.000
And where do you go to see
this powerful new program?

00:56:32.001 --> 00:56:36.000
Go see David and Betty Sun
at Sun Computers in Carson.

00:56:36.001 --> 00:56:40.000
They'll tell you what you need
to know about D-BASE 3 and more.

00:56:40.001 --> 00:56:45.001
Sun Computers is located at
20925 South Benita in Carson.

00:56:46.000 --> 00:56:50.000
Or call 213-538-8338.

00:56:51.000 --> 00:56:54.001
That's 213-538-8338.

00:56:54.001 --> 00:56:58.001
Sun Computers in Carson, a soft sale dealer.

00:57:00.001 --> 00:57:03.000
We'd like to thank everyone who
helped make this show possible.

00:57:03.001 --> 00:57:07.001
John Dvorak of Infoworld and Katie
Altman of Passport Software.

00:57:07.001 --> 00:57:11.000
Of course, Jeff Garbers of MicroStuff
and Rick Burnett, our engineer.

00:57:11.001 --> 00:57:15.001
And most of all, we want to thank you,
our audience, who've been participating

00:57:15.001 --> 00:57:17.001
here at the famous Computer Cafe.

00:57:18.001 --> 00:57:23.001
Stay tuned to us every night from 7.
30 to 8 p.m. and every morning at

00:57:23.001 --> 00:57:25.001
10 to 10.30.

00:57:25.001 --> 00:57:27.001
You got it. Hey, guys, take care.

00:57:27.001 --> 00:57:29.001
See you later. Have a great week.